Antenna system for use within a wireless communication device

ABSTRACT

An antenna system includes an antenna, a transmission line, an inductor module, a tunable capacitor module, and control logic. The transmission line is coupled to the antenna and to the inductor module. The tunable capacitor module is coupled to the transmission line in accordance with a capacitance control signal to provide a desired capacitance such that inductance of the inductor module and the desired capacitance tunes the antenna system. The control logic is coupled to generate the capacitance control signal based on the operational parameters.

This patent application is claiming priority under 35 USC §119 to aprovisionally filed patent application entitled ANTENNA SYSTEM FOR USEWITHIN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE, having a provisional filing dateof Mar. 14, 2007, and a provisional Ser. No. 60/906,987.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to wireless communication systems andmore particularly to wireless communication devices having an integratedcircuit operating within such systems.

2. Description of Related Art

Communication systems are known to support wireless and wire linedcommunications between wireless and/or wire lined communication devices.Such communication systems range from national and/or internationalcellular telephone systems to the Internet to point-to-point in-homewireless networks. Each type of communication system is constructed, andhence operates, in accordance with one or more communication standards.For instance, wireless communication systems may operate in accordancewith one or more standards including, but not limited to, IEEE 802.11,Bluetooth, advanced mobile phone services (AMPS), digital AMPS, globalsystem for mobile communications (GSM), code division multiple access(CDMA), local multi-point distribution systems (LMDS),multi-channel-multi-point distribution systems (MMDS), radio frequencyidentification (RFID), Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE),General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), and/or variations thereof.

Depending on the type of wireless communication system, a wirelesscommunication device, such as a cellular telephone, two-way radio,personal digital assistant (PDA), personal computer (PC), laptopcomputer, home entertainment equipment, RFID reader, RFID tag, et ceteracommunicates directly or indirectly with other wireless communicationdevices. For direct communications (also known as point-to-pointcommunications), the participating wireless communication devices tunetheir receivers and transmitters to the same channel or channels (e.g.,one of the plurality of radio frequency (RF) carriers of the wirelesscommunication system or a particular RF frequency for some systems) andcommunicate over that channel(s). For indirect wireless communications,each wireless communication device communicates directly with anassociated base station (e.g., for cellular services) and/or anassociated access point (e.g., for an in-home or in-building wirelessnetwork) via an assigned channel. To complete a communication connectionbetween the wireless communication devices, the associated base stationsand/or associated access points communicate with each other directly,via a system controller, via the public switch telephone network, viathe Internet, and/or via some other wide area network.

For each wireless communication device to participate in wirelesscommunications, it includes a built-in radio transceiver (i.e., receiverand transmitter) or is coupled to an associated radio transceiver (e.g.,a station for in-home and/or in-building wireless communicationnetworks, RF modem, etc.). As is known, the receiver is coupled to anantenna and includes a low noise amplifier, one or more intermediatefrequency stages, a filtering stage, and a data recovery stage. The lownoise amplifier receives inbound RF signals via the antenna andamplifies then. The one or more intermediate frequency stages mix theamplified RF signals with one or more local oscillations to convert theamplified RF signal into baseband signals or intermediate frequency (IF)signals. The filtering stage filters the baseband signals or the IFsignals to attenuate unwanted out of band signals to produce filteredsignals. The data recovery stage recovers raw data from the filteredsignals in accordance with the particular wireless communicationstandard.

As is also known, the transmitter includes a data modulation stage, oneor more intermediate frequency stages, and a power amplifier. The datamodulation stage converts raw data into baseband signals in accordancewith a particular wireless communication standard. The one or moreintermediate frequency stages mix the baseband signals with one or morelocal oscillations to produce RF signals. The power amplifier amplifiesthe RF signals prior to transmission via an antenna.

While transmitters generally include a data modulation stage, one ormore IF stages, and a power amplifier, the particular implementation ofthese elements is dependent upon the data modulation scheme of thestandard being supported by the transceiver. For example, if thebaseband modulation scheme is Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK), thedata modulation stage functions to convert digital words into quadraturemodulation symbols, which have a constant amplitude and varying phases.The IF stage includes a phase locked loop (PLL) that generates anoscillation at a desired RF frequency, which is modulated based on thevarying phases produced by the data modulation stage. The phasemodulated RF signal is then amplified by the power amplifier inaccordance with a transmit power level setting to produce a phasemodulated RF signal.

As another example, if the data modulation scheme is 8-PSK (phase shiftkeying), the data modulation stage functions to convert digital wordsinto symbols having varying amplitudes and varying phases. The IF stageincludes a phase locked loop (PLL) that generates an oscillation at adesired RF frequency, which is modulated based on the varying phasesproduced by the data modulation stage. The phase modulated RF signal isthen amplified by the power amplifier in accordance with the varyingamplitudes to produce a phase and amplitude modulated RF signal.

As yet another example, if the data modulation scheme is x-QAM (16, 64,128, 256 quadrature amplitude modulation), the data modulation stagefunctions to convert digital words into Cartesian coordinate symbols(e.g., having an in-phase signal component and a quadrature signalcomponent). The IF stage includes mixers that mix the in-phase signalcomponent with an in-phase local oscillation and mix the quadraturesignal component with a quadrature local oscillation to produce twomixed signals. The mixed signals are summed together and filtered toproduce an RF signal that is subsequently amplified by a poweramplifier.

As a further example, the resulting RF signal has different, carrierfrequencies in different frequency bands depending on the standard beingsupported by the transceiver. For instance, a GSM, EDGE, or GPRScompliant transceiver uses a 900 MHz, 180° MHz, and/or 1900 MHzfrequency band; a WCMA compliant transceiver uses a 1900 MHz and 2100MHz frequency band; an IEEE 802.11 compliant transceiver uses a 2.4 GHzor 5 GHz frequency band; and a Bluetooth compliant transceiver uses a2.4 GHz frequency band. As such, the local oscillation, the mixers ofthe transmit and receive IF stages, the low noise amplifier, the poweramplifier, and the RF filtering are designed to operating within aspecific frequency band.

As the desire for wireless communication devices to support multiplestandards continues, recent trends include the desire to integrate morefunctions on to a single chip. However, such desires have goneunrealized when it comes to implementing baseband and RF on the samechip for multiple wireless communication standards.

Therefore, a need exists for an integrated circuit (IC) that implementsbaseband and RF of multiple wireless communication standards on the sameIC die.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to apparatus and methods of operationthat are further described in the following Brief Description of theDrawings, the Detailed Description of the Invention, and the claims.Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description of the invention madewith reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a wirelesscommunication system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a wirelesscommunication device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a wirelesscommunication device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a wirelesscommunication device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a localoscillation module, a transmitter section, and a receiver section inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a localoscillation module, a transmitter section, and a receiver sectioncoupled to a calibration processing module in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a wirelesscommunication device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a wirelesscommunication device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an antennasystem in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a diagram of example frequency bands of an antenna system inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a diagram of an embodiment of an antenna system in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of an antennasystem in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a wirelesscommunication device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a diagram of another embodiment of an antenna system inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of an antennasystem in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a diagram of an embodiment of a wireless communication devicein accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of an antennasystem in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a wirelesscommunication device in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 19 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a wirelesscommunication device in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a communication system10 that includes a plurality of base stations and/or access points 12,16, a plurality of wireless communication devices 18-32 and a networkhardware component 34. Note that the network hardware 34, which may be arouter, switch, bridge, modem, system controller, et cetera provides awide area network connection 42 for the communication system 10. Furthernote that the wireless communication devices 18-32 may be laptop hostcomputers 18 and 26, personal digital assistant hosts 20 and 30,personal computer hosts 24 and 32 and/or cellular telephone hosts 22 and28. The details of the wireless communication devices will be describedin greater detail with reference to FIGS. 2-13.

Wireless communication devices 22, 23, and 24 are located within anindependent basic service set (IBSS) area and communicate directly(i.e., point to point). In this configuration, these devices 22, 23, and24 may only communicate with each other. To communicate with otherwireless communication devices within the system 10 or to communicateoutside of the system 10, the devices 22, 23, and/or 24 need toaffiliate with one of the base stations or access points 12 or 16.

The base stations or access points 12, 16 are located within basicservice set (BSS) areas 11 and 13, respectively, and are operablycoupled to the network hardware 34 via local area network connections36, 38. Such a connection provides the base station or access point 1216 with connectivity to other devices within the system 10 and providesconnectivity to other networks via the WAN connection 42. To communicatewith the wireless communication devices within its BSS 11 or 13, each ofthe base stations or access points 12-16 has an associated antenna orantenna array. For instance, base station or access point 12 wirelesslycommunicates with wireless communication devices 18 and 20 while basestation or access point 16 wirelessly communicates with wirelesscommunication devices 26-32. Typically, the wireless communicationdevices register with a particular base station or access point 12, 16to receive services from the communication system 10.

Typically, base stations are used for cellular telephone systems (e.g.,advanced mobile phone services (AMPS), digital AMPS, global system formobile communications (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA), localmulti-point distribution systems (LMDS), multi-channel-multi-pointdistribution systems (MMDS), Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution(EDGE), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), high-speed downlink packetaccess (HSDPA), high-speed uplink packet access (HSUPA and/or variationsthereof) and like-type systems, while access points are used for in-homeor in-building wireless networks (e.g., IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, ZigBee,any other type of radio frequency based network protocol and/orvariations thereof). Regardless of the particular type of communicationsystem, each wireless communication device includes a built-in radioand/or is coupled to a radio.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a wirelesscommunication device 50 that includes an integrated circuit 52 and anantenna system 54. The communication device 50 may be one of thecommunication devices 18-32 of FIG. 1 or another type of portable devicethat provides wireless services. In this embodiment, the wirelesscommunication device 50 supports one or more of wireless local areanetwork (WLAN) communications 55, wireless personal area network (WPAN)communications 56, and wireless wide area network (WWAN) communications58.

The WLAN communications 55 may be in accordance with past, present, orfuture versions of IEEE 802.11 (e.g., 802.11a, b, g, n, etc.). Inaddition, the WLAN communications 55 may be in accordance with a farfield communication (FFC) protocol as may be used in an RFID system. Forexample, the wireless communication device 50 may include an RFID readerthat communicates with RFID tags within its coverage area via an RFsignal having a carrier frequency at 13 MHz, 900 MHz, etc., using aback-scattering technique. Alternatively, the wireless communicationdevice 50 may included an RFID tag.

The WPAN communications 56 may be in accordance with past, present, orfuture versions of Bluetooth, ZigBee, and/or IEEE 802.15x (e.g., IEEE802.15.1, .2, .3, and .4). In addition, the WPAN communications 56 maybe in accordance with a near field communication (NFC) protocol as maybe used in an RFID system, card reading system, chip reading system,etc. For example, the WPAN communications 56 may be with a headset, awireless mouse, a wireless keypad, a wireless keyboard, etc.

The WWAN communications 58 may be in accordance with past, present, orfuture versions of cellular voice standards (e.g., global system formobile communications (GSM), wide bandwidth code division multiplexing(WCDMA), CDMA), cellular data standards (e.g., high-speed downlinkpacket access (HSDPA), high-speed uplink packet access (HSUPA), EnhancedData rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), General Packet Radio Service(GPRS)), broadcast television standards (e.g., digital videobroadcasting-handheld (DVB-H), digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB)),broadcast radio (e.g., FM), and/or global positioning system (GPS)standards.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a wirelesscommunication device 50 that includes the IC 52 and the antenna system54. In this embodiment, the IC 52 includes a baseband processing module60, a network processing module 62, a calibration processing module 64,a receiver section 66, and a transmitter section 68. The basebandprocessing module 60, the network processing module 62, and thecalibration processing module 64 may be separate processing modules, ashared processing module, or a combination thereof. The processingmodule may be a single processing device or a plurality of processingdevices. Such a processing device may be a microprocessor,micro-controller, digital signal processor, microcomputer, centralprocessing unit, field programmable gate array, programmable logicdevice, state machine, logic circuitry, analog circuitry, digitalcircuitry, and/or any device that manipulates signals (analog and/ordigital) based on hard coding of the circuitry and/or operationalinstructions. The processing module may have an associated memory and/ormemory element, which may be a single memory device, a plurality ofmemory devices, and/or embedded circuitry of the processing module. Sucha memory device may be a read-only memory, random access memory,volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamic memory,flash memory, cache memory, and/or any device that stores digitalinformation. Note that when the processing module implements one or moreof its functions via a state machine, analog circuitry, digitalcircuitry, and/or logic circuitry, the memory and/or memory elementstoring the corresponding operational instructions may be embeddedwithin, or external to, the circuitry comprising the state machine,analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry. Furthernote that, the memory element stores, and the processing moduleexecutes, hard coded and/or operational instructions corresponding to atleast some of the steps and/or functions illustrated in FIGS. 3-19.

In operation, the network processing module 62 establishes a wirelesscommunication protocol 78 in accordance with an operational mode 80 ofthe wireless communication device. The wireless communication protocol78 may be one or more of a WLAN communication protocol (e.g., IEEE802.11x, FFC), a WPAN communication protocol (e.g., Bluetooth, ZigBee,IEEE 802.15x, NFC) and a WWAN communication protocol (e.g., GSM, EDGE,GPRS, WCDMA, CDMA, HSDPA, HSUPA, DVB-H, DMB, GPS, FM). Note that thenetwork processing module 62 may automatically detect the operationalmode 80 and/or detect the operational mode 80 based on a user selection.

The network processing module 62 also establishes operational parameters82 based on the wireless communication protocol 78. The operationalparameters 82 may includes limits and/or specific values for one or moreof frequency bands, channels, gain settings, filter corner frequency orfrequencies, filter attenuation roll-off, bandwidth, center frequency,quality factor, frequency dependent impedance value, attenuationsetting, gain roll-off, transmit power settings, antenna configurationsettings, and frequency response. Note that the operational parameters82 may include default settings and/or include calculated settings forone or more of the parameters as will be further described withreference to FIG. 6.

As an example, assume that the mode of operation 80 is WLAN and thewireless communication protocol is IEEE 802.11g. In this example, theoperational parameters 82 indicate initial values and/or ranges ofvalues for one or more of: a frequency band of 2.4 GHz, oscillationsettings for the transmit and receive local oscillations 96 and 98(e.g., 2.4 GHz for direct conversion in this example), LNA settings(e.g., gain, input impedance, frequency response, load, bandwidth,etc.), antenna matching settings (e.g., impedance, frequency response,bandwidth, quality factor, center frequency, etc.) for the receiver andtransmitter sections 66 and 68, the antenna configuration settings(e.g., antenna configuration, frequency response, quality factor,impedance, bandwidth, center frequency, etc.), RF filtering settings(gain/attenuation value, bandwidth, roll-off, corner frequency(ies),etc.), analog filtering settings (e.g., gain/attenuation value,bandwidth, roll-off, corner frequency(ies), etc.), transmitter RF signalprocessing (e.g., beamforming, antenna polarization, maximum signal tonoise ratio, and maximum signal to interference ratio, etc.), PAsettings (e.g., gain, output impedance, frequency response, load,bandwidth, transmit power level, etc.), and up-conversion and/or downconversion mixer settings (e.g., gain, load, frequency response, etc.).Thus, the wireless communication device 50 is initialized and/oroperates in accordance with the operational parameters 82.

In another embodiment, the calibration processing module 64 providingthe RF receive feedback 84 and the RF transmit feedback 86 to thenetwork processing module 62. The network processing module 62 utilizesthe RF receive feedback 84 and the RF transmit feedback 86 in additionto the wireless communication protocol 78 to establish the operationalparameters 82.

The calibration processing module 84 receives the operational parameters82 and receives feedback from the receiver section 66 and thetransmitter section 68 (e.g., RF receive feedback 84 and RF transmitfeedback 86, respectively). The RF receive feedback 84 may include oneor more of: received signal strength indication (RSSI), receive antennamatching performance indication (e.g., measurements indicative ofimpedance, frequency response, bandwidth, quality factor, centerfrequency, etc.), LNA performance indication (e.g., measurementsindicative of gain, input impedance, frequency response, bandwidth,loading, etc.), receiver RF filtering performance indication (e.g.,measurements indicative of gain/attenuation, bandwidth, roll-off, cornerfrequency(ies), etc.), down-conversion performance indication (e.g.,measurements indicative of gain, load, frequency response, etc.), andreceive analog filtering performance indication (e.g., gain/attenuationvalue, bandwidth, roll-off, corner frequency(ies), etc.). The RFtransmit feedback 86 may include one or more of: a transmit power levelindication, transmit antenna matching performance indication (e.g.,measurements indicative of impedance, frequency response, bandwidth,quality factor, center frequency, etc.), PA performance indication(e.g., measurements indicative of gain, input impedance, frequencyresponse, bandwidth, transmit power level, linearity, loading, etc.),transmit RF filtering performance indication (e.g., measurementsindicative of gain/attenuation, bandwidth, roll-off, cornerfrequency(ies), etc.), up-conversion performance indication (e.g.,measurements indicative of gain, load, frequency response, etc.), andtransmit analog filtering performance indication (e.g., gain/attenuationvalue, bandwidth, roll-off, corner frequency(ies), etc.).

The calibration processing module 84 uses the operational parameters 82and the RF receive feedback 84 to generate RF receiver calibrationinformation 88. In an embodiment, the calibration processing module 84utilizes the operational parameters 82 to determine desired performancelevels of the receiver section 66 and uses the RF receive feedback 84 todetermine actual performance levels. The calibration processing module84 determines differences between the desired performance levels and theactual performance levels to generate the RF receiver calibrationinformation 88. The RF receiver calibration information 88 may includeone or more of: default settings for one or more components of thereceiver section 66, new or adjusted LNA settings, new or adjustedantenna matching settings, new or adjusted antenna configurationsettings, new or adjusted RF filtering settings, new or adjusted analogfiltering settings, and new or adjusted down conversion mixer settings.

The calibration processing module 84 also uses the operationalparameters 82 and the RF transmit feedback 86 to generate RF transmittercalibration information 90. In an embodiment, the calibration processingmodule 84 utilizes the operational parameters 82 to determine desiredperformance levels of the transmitter section 6 and uses the RF transmitfeedback 8 to determine actual performance levels. The calibrationprocessing module 84 determines differences between the desiredperformance levels and the actual performance levels to generate the RFtransmitter calibration information 90. The RF transmitter calibrationinformation 90 may include one or more of: default settings for one ormore components of the transmitter section 68, new or adjusted PAsettings, new or adjusted antenna matching settings, new or adjustedantenna configuration settings, new or adjusted RF filtering settings,new or adjusted analog filtering settings, and new or adjustedup-conversion mixer settings.

The baseband processing module 60 converts outbound data 70 (e.g.,digitized voice, data, text, image file, audio file, video file, etc.)into an outbound symbol stream 74 in accordance with the wirelesscommunication protocol 78. The particular type of processing performedby the baseband processing module 60 is dependent upon the wirelesscommunication protocol 78 and may include, but is not limited to,scrambling, encoding, puncturing, constellation mapping, PSK modulation,GMSK modulation, QPSK modulation, FSK modulation, 8-PSK modulation,n-QAM modulation, and/or digital baseband to IF conversion.

The baseband processing module 60 also converts an inbound symbol stream76 into inbound data 72 (e.g., digitized voice, data, text, image file,audio file, video file, GPS signals, digitized FM audio, digital videobroadcast, etc.) in accordance with the wireless communication protocol78. The particular type of processing performed by the basebandprocessing module 60 is dependent upon the wireless communicationprotocol 78 and may include, but is not limited to, descrambling,decoding, depuncturing, constellation demapping, PSK demodulation, GMSKdemodulation, QPSK demodulation, FSK demodulation, 8-PSK demodulation,n-QAM demodulation, and/or IF to digital baseband conversion.

The receiver section 66 (embodiments of which will be described ingreater detail with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6) provides the RF receivefeedback 84 and converts an inbound RF signal 94 into the inbound symbolstream 76 in accordance with the RF receiver calibration information 88and a receive local oscillation 98. The conversion performed by thereceiver section 66 is dependent upon the wireless communicationprotocol. For example, if the wireless communication protocol utilizesGaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK) scheme, the receiver section 66includes a GMSK receiver architecture to recover a GMSK modulated signal(e.g., the inbound symbol stream 76) from the inbound RF signal 94. Asanother example, if the wireless communication protocol utilizes an8-PSK (phase shift keying) scheme and/or an x-QAM scheme, the receiversection 66 includes an 8-PSK or x-QAM receiver architecture to recoveran 8-PSK or x-QAM modulated signal (e.g., the inbound symbol stream 76)from the inbound RF signal 94.

The transmitter section 68 (embodiments of which will be described ingreater detail with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6) provides the RF transmitfeedback 86 and converts the outbound symbol stream 74 into an outboundRF signal 92 in accordance with the RF transmitter calibrationinformation 90 and a transmit local oscillation 96. The conversionperformed by the transmitter section 68 is dependent upon the wirelesscommunication protocol. For example, if the wireless communicationprotocol utilizes a GMSK scheme, the transmitter section 68 includes aGMSK transmitter architecture to convert a GMSK modulated signal (e.g.,the outbound symbol stream 76) into the outbound RF signal 92. Asanother example, if the wireless communication protocol utilizes an8-PSK (phase shift keying) scheme and/or an x-QAM scheme, thetransmitter section 68 includes an 8-PSK or x-QAM transmitterarchitecture to convert an 8-PSK or x-QAM modulated signal (e.g., theoutbound symbol stream 76) into the outbound RF signal 92.

The antenna system 54 (embodiments of which are described in greaterdetail with reference to FIGS. 8-19) provides the inbound RF signal 94to the receiver section 66 and receives the outbound RF signal 92 fromthe transmitter section 68. The antenna section 54 then transmits theoutbound RF signal 92.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a wirelesscommunication device 50 that includes the IC 52 and the antenna system54. The IC 52 includes the baseband processing module 60, the networkprocessing module 62, the calibration processing module 64, the receiversection 66, and the transmitter section 68. The baseband processingmodule 60, the network processing module 62, and the calibrationprocessing module 64 may be separate processing modules, a sharedprocessing module, or a combination thereof.

In this embodiment, the wireless communication device 50 is in amulti-system operational mode 100 (e.g., supporting two or more wirelesscommunication protocols concurrent operations and/or contemporaneousoperations). In this embodiment, the network processing module 62establishes first and second wireless communication protocols 78 and 102in accordance with a concurrent operational mode 100 of the wirelesscommunication device 50. Note that the first and second wirelesscommunication protocols 78 and 102 may each be one or more of a WLANcommunication protocol (e.g., IEEE 802.11x, FFC), a WPAN communicationprotocol (e.g., Bluetooth, ZigBee, IEEE 802.15x, NFC) and a WWANcommunication protocol (e.g., GSM, EDGE, GPRS, WCDMA, CDMA, HSDPA,HSUPA, DVB-H, DMB, GPS, FM).

The network processing module 62 also establishes first operationalparameters 82 based on the first wireless communication protocol 78 andestablishes second operational parameters 116 based on the secondwireless communication protocol 102. The first and second operationalparameters 82 and 116 may be one or more of the operational parameters82 discussed with reference to FIG. 3.

The baseband processing module 60 converts first outbound data 70 into afirst outbound symbol stream 74 in accordance with a first wirelesscommunication protocol 78 and converts a first inbound symbol stream 76into first inbound data 72 in accordance with the first wirelesscommunication protocol 78. The baseband processing module 60 alsoconverts second outbound data 104 (e.g., digitized voice, data, text,image file, audio file, video file, etc.) into a second outbound symbolstream 106 in accordance with a second wireless communication protocol102 and convert a second inbound symbol stream 126 into second inbounddata 128 (e.g., digitized voice, data, text, image file, audio file,video file, GPS signals, digitized FM audio, digital video broadcast,etc.) in accordance with the second wireless communication protocol 102.

The calibration processing module 64 is coupled to receive first RFreceive feedback 84 corresponding to the first wireless communicationprotocol 78; receive second RF receive feedback 124 corresponding to thesecond wireless communication protocol 102; receive first RF transmitfeedback 86 corresponding to the first wireless communication protocol78; and receive second RF transmit feedback 112 corresponding to thesecond wireless communication protocol 102. The second RF transmit andreceive feedback may be similar in scope to the first RF transmit andreceive feedback discussed with reference to FIG. 3.

The calibration processing module 64 is also coupled to generate firstRF receiver calibration information 88 based on the first operationalparameters 82 and the first RF receive feedback 84; generate second RFreceiver calibration information 122 based on the second operationalparameters 116 and the second RF receive feedback 124; generate first RFtransmitter calibration information 90 based on the first operationalparameters 82 and the first RF transmit feedback 86; and generate secondRF transmitter calibration information 122 based on the secondoperational parameters 116 and the second RF transmit feedback 112. Thesecond RF RX and TX calibration information 122 and 114 may be similarin scope to the first RF RX and TX calibration information 88 and 90discussed with reference to FIG. 3.

The receiver section 66 provides the first and second RF receivefeedback 84 and 124 to the calibration module 64. The receiver section66 also converts a first inbound RF signal 94 into the first inboundsymbol stream 76 in accordance with the first RF receiver calibrationinformation 88 and a first receive local oscillation 98. The receiversection 66 further converts a second inbound RF signal 118 into thesecond inbound symbol stream 126 in accordance with the second RFreceiver calibration information 122 and a second receive localoscillation 120.

The transmitter section 68 provides the first and second RF transmitfeedback 86 and 112 to the calibration processing module 64. Inaddition, the transmitter section 68 converts the first outbound symbolstream 74 into a first outbound RF signal 92 in accordance with thefirst RF transmitter calibration information 90 and a first transmitlocal oscillation 96. The transmitter section 68 also converts thesecond outbound symbol stream 106 into a second outbound RF signal 110in accordance with the second RF transmitter calibration information 114and a second transmit local oscillation 108.

In another embodiment, the network processing module 62 may determinewhether the first and second wireless communication protocols 78 and 102have at least partially overlapping frequency bands. For example, thenetwork processing module 62 may determine that the first wirelesscommunication protocol 78 is EDGE operating in the 1900 MHz frequencyband and the second communication protocol is WCDMA operating in the1900 MHz and 2100 MHz frequency bands.

If the first and second wireless communication protocols have at leastpartially overlapping frequency bands, the network processing module 62determines whether the first outbound RF signal will interfere with thesecond inbound RF signal or whether the second outbound RF signal willinterfere with the first inbound RF signal. Such a determination may bemade by intrinsic data or empirical data. For example, the networkprocessing module 62 determines whether the EDGE RF signals willinterfere with the WCDMA RF signals, and vice versa. Since both use the1900 MHz frequency band, it can be assumed that the EDGE and WCDMA RFsignals will interfere with each other if simultaneously operated.However, by using a polarized antenna structure, selective RF filtering,and selective baseband processing, it is possible for simultaneous EDGEand WCDMA operation. Alternatively, simultaneous operation of the EDGEand WCDMA may occur via a nested sharing of the appropriate RFresources, where one of the protocols reserves the RF resources andallocates part of its granted RF resources to the other protocol.

If the first outbound RF signal will interfere with the second inboundRF signal or if the second outbound RF signal will interfere with thefirst inbound RF signal, the network processing module 62 establishes anRF resource sharing protocol between the first and second wirelesscommunication protocols. The RF resource sharing protocol may includetime division multiplexing, frequency division multiplexing, a roundrobin scheme, a collision sense multiple access (CSMA) with collisionavoidance, etc. Note that the RF resource(s) being shared may be one ormore channels within a frequency band, a particular carrier frequencywithin the frequency band, and/or multiple carrier frequencies withinthe frequency band.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a localoscillation module 130, a transmitter section 68, and a receiver section66 that may be used in the wireless communication device 50 of FIG. 4.In this embodiment, the transmitter section 68 includes a firsttransmitter module 136 and a second transmitter module 138 and thereceiver section 66 includes a first receiver module 132 and a secondreceiver module 134. The local oscillation module 130 includes two ormore local oscillators to produce the transmit and receive localoscillations 96, 98, 108, and 120. One of the local oscillations isshown to include a signal source (e.g., a crystal oscillator, phaselocked loop, etc.), a ½ frequency divider, mixers, and a phase shift(e.g., φ) to produce two pairs of local oscillations (e.g., LOI₁ andLOQ₁ and LOI₂ and LOQ₂).

Each of the transmitter modules 136 and 138 may be of a similarconstruct and each of the receiver modules 132 and 134 may also be of asimilar construct. For example, the transmitter modules 136 and 138 mayinclude two power amplifier modules (e.g., each including one or morepower amplifiers and one or more amplifier drivers coupled in seriesand/or in parallel), a first pair of mixers, and a second pair ofmixers. The first pair of mixers mix an analog and filteredrepresentation of the outbound symbol stream 74 or 106 with a firstlocal oscillation pair (e.g., LOI₁ and LOQ₁) to produce a mixed signalthat is amplified by a first one of the power amplifier modules inaccordance with the RF TX calibration information 90 or 114. The secondpair of mixers mix the analog and filtered representation of theoutbound symbol stream 74 or 106 with a second local oscillation pair(e.g., LOI₂ and LOQ₂) to produce a second mixed signal that is amplifiedby a second one of the power amplifier modules in accordance with the RFTX calibration information 90 or 114. The two RF signals are combined inair to produce the outbound RF signal 92 or 110. In this manner, bycontrolling the phase shift within the local oscillation module 130beamforming, polarization diversity, maximum signal to interferenceratio, and/or maximum signal to noise ratio may be obtained.

Continuing with the preceding example, the receiver modules 132 and 134may each include low noise amplifier (LNA) modules (e.g., one or morelow noise amplifiers coupled in series and/or in parallel), and twopairs of mixers. Each of the LNA modules receives the inbound RF signal94 or 118 and amplifies it in accordance with the RF RX calibrationinformation 88 or 122 to produce amplified inbound RF signals. The firstpair of mixers mixes one of the amplified inbound RF signals with afirst local oscillation pair (e.g., LOI₁ and LOQ₁) to produce a firstanalog representation of the inbound symbol stream. The second pair ofmixers mixes the other amplifier inbound RF signal with a second localoscillation pair (e.g., LOI₂ and LOQ₂) to produce a second analogrepresentation of the inbound symbol stream. The first and second analogrepresentations of the inbound symbol stream are combined to produce ananalog representation of the inbound symbol stream 76 or 126.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a localoscillation module 130, a transmitter section 68, and a receiver section66 coupled to a calibration processing module 64 via an analog todigital interface 160. In this embodiment, the receive section 66includes an antenna matching circuit module 140, an RF filter module142, an LNA module 144, a down conversion module 146, and an analogfilter module 148. The transmitter section 68 includes an analog filtermodule 150, an up conversion module 152, a power amplifier (PA) module154, an RF filtering module 156, and an antenna matching circuit module158.

Within the receiver section 66, the antenna matching circuit module 140,which may include a transmission line, an impedance matching circuit,and/or tuning circuit, is coupled to receive the inbound RF signal 94and/or 118 from the antenna system 54. The antenna matching circuitmodule 140 may be tuned in accordance with a matching control signal ofthe RF receiver calibration information 88 and/or 122. For example, theRF receiver calibration information 88 and/or 122 may provide controlsignals to set an impedance, bandwidth, center frequency, and/or qualityfactor of the antenna matching circuit module 140 to support theparticular wireless communication protocol. In addition, the antennamatching circuit module 140 may generate receive antenna matchingfeedback of the RF receive feedback 84 and/or 124. For example, thereceive antenna matching feedback may include measurements indicative ofimpedance, frequency response, bandwidth, quality factor, centerfrequency, etc. As an alternative example, the antenna matching circuitmodule 140 may include processing circuitry to interpret suchmeasurements to calculate its input impedance, its frequency response,its bandwidth, its quality factor, its center frequency, etc. and toprovide such values to the calibration module 64 via the analog todigital interface 160.

The RF filtering module 142 is coupled to filter the inbound RF signalin accordance with an RF filter control signal of the RF receivercalibration information 88 and/or 122 to produce a filtered inbound RFsignal. For example, the RF filtering module 142 may adjust itsgain/attenuation, its bandwidth, its roll-off, its corner frequency orfrequencies, etc. in accordance with the RF filter control signal. Inaddition, the RF filtering module 142 may generate RF receive filteringfeedback of the RF receive feedback 84 and/or 124. Such RF receivefiltering feedback may include measurements indicative ofgain/attenuation, bandwidth, roll-off, corner frequency or frequencies,etc. Alternatively, the RF filtering module 142 may include processingcircuitry to interpret the measurements to calculate itsgain/attenuation, its bandwidth, its roll-off, its corner frequency orfrequencies, etc. and to provide such values to the calibration module64 via the analog to digital interface 160.

The low noise amplifier (LNA) module 144 is coupled to amplify thefiltered inbound RF signal in accordance with a LNA control signal ofthe RF receiver calibration information 88 and/or 122 to produce anamplified inbound RF signal. For example, the LNA module 144, which mayinclude one or more low noise amplifiers coupled in series and/or inparallel, may adjust its gain, its input impedance, its frequencyresponse, its bandwidth, its loading, etc. in accordance with the LNAcontrol signal. In addition, the LNA module 144 may generate LNAfeedback of the RF receive feedback 84 and/or 124. Such LNA feedback mayinclude measurements indicative of gain, input impedance, frequencyresponse, bandwidth, loading, etc. Alternatively, the LNA module 144 mayinclude processing circuitry to interpret the measurements to calculateits gain, its input impedance, its frequency response, its bandwidth,its loading, etc. and to provide such values to the calibration module64 via the analog to digital interface 160.

The down conversion module 146, which may include one or more pair ofmixers and a combining circuit, is coupled to convert the amplifiedinbound RF signal into a baseband or near baseband signal (e.g., has acarrier frequency of 0 Hz to a few MHz) based on the receive localoscillation 98 and/or 120 and in accordance with a down conversioncontrol signal of the RF receiver calibration information 88 and/or 122.For example, the down conversion module 146 may adjust its gain, itsload, its frequency response, etc. in accordance with the downconversion control signal. In addition, the down conversion module 146may generate down conversion feedback of the RF receive feedback 84and/or 124. For example, the down conversion feedback may includemeasurements indicative of gain, load, frequency response, etc.Alternatively, the down conversion module 146 may include processingcircuitry to interpret the measurements to calculate its gain, it load,it frequency response, etc. and to provide such values to thecalibration module 64 via the analog to digital interface 160.

The analog baseband or near baseband filter module 148 is coupled tofilter the baseband or near baseband signal in accordance with an analogfilter control signal of the RF receiver calibration information 88and/or 122 to produce an analog representation of the inbound symbolstream 76 and/or 126. For example, the analog baseband or near basebandfilter module 148 may adjust its gain/attenuation, its bandwidth, itsroll-off, its corner frequency or corner frequencies, etc. in accordancewith the analog filter control signal. In addition, the analog basebandor near baseband filter module 148, which may include a gain stage, alow pass filter, and/or a bandpass filter, may generate analog filteringfeedback of the RF receive feedback 84 and/or 124. For example, theanalog filtering feedback may include measurements indicative ofgain/attenuation, bandwidth, roll-off, corner frequency, cornerfrequencies, etc. Alternatively, the analog baseband or near basebandfilter module 148 may include processing circuitry to interpret themeasurements to calculate its gain/attenuation, its bandwidth, itsroll-off, its corner frequency or corner frequencies, etc. and toprovide such values to the calibration module 64 via the analog todigital interface 160.

In an embodiment, the network processing module 62 may establish theoperational parameters to include a range of antenna matching parametersfrom which the matching control signal is generated; establish theoperational parameters to include a range of RF filter controlparameters from which the RF filter control signal is generated;establish the operational parameters to include a range of LNAparameters from which the LNA control signal is generated; establish theoperational parameters to include a range of down-conversion parametersfrom which the down conversion control signal is generated; and/orestablish the operational parameters to include a range of analog filterparameters from which the analog filter control signal is generated. Assuch, one or more of the components 140-148 of the receiver section 66may be adjusted based on the RF receiver calibration information 88 or122. Alternatively, the network processing module 62 may generate theoperational parameters 82 and/or 116 such that one or more thecomponents 140-148 of the receiver section 66 is set to a default, ornominal, operating level.

Within the transmitter section 68, the analog baseband or near basebandfilter module 150 is coupled to filter the outbound symbol stream 76and/or 106 in accordance with an analog filter control signal of the RFtransmitter calibration information 90 and/or 114 to produce an analogrepresentation of the outbound symbol stream. For example, the analogbaseband or near baseband filter module 150, which may include a digitalto analog converter, a gain stage, a low pass filter, and/or a bandpassfilter, may adjust its gain/attenuation, its bandwidth, its roll-off,its corner frequency or corner frequencies, etc. in accordance with theanalog filter control signal. In addition, the analog baseband or nearbaseband filter module 150 may generate analog filtering feedback of theRF transmit feedback 86 and/or 112. For example, the analog filteringfeedback may include measurements indicative of gain/attenuation,bandwidth, roll-off, corner frequency, corner frequencies, etc.Alternatively, the analog baseband or near baseband filter module 150may include processing circuitry to interpret the measurements tocalculate its gain/attenuation, its bandwidth, its roll-off, its cornerfrequency or corner frequencies, etc. and to provide such values to thecalibration module 64 via the analog to digital interface 160.

The up conversion module 152 is coupled to convert the analogrepresentation of the outbound symbol stream into an up-converted signalbased on the transmit local oscillation 96 and/or 108 and in accordancewith an up conversion control signal of the RF transmitter calibrationinformation 90 and/or 114. For example, the up conversion module 152,which may include one or more pair of mixers and a combining circuit,may adjust its gain, its load, its frequency response, etc. inaccordance with the down conversion control signal. In addition, the upconversion module 152 may generate up conversion feedback of the RFtransmit feedback 86 and/or 112. For example, the up conversion feedbackmay include measurements indicative of gain, load, frequency response,etc. Alternatively, the up conversion module 152 may include processingcircuitry to interpret the measurements to calculate its gain, it load,it frequency response, etc. and to provide such values to thecalibration module 64 via the analog to digital interface 160.

The power amplifier (PA) module 154 is coupled to amplify theup-converted signal in accordance with a PA control signal of the RFtransmitter calibration information 90 and/or 114 to produce anamplified outbound RF signal. For example, the PA module 154, which mayinclude one or more power amplifiers and/or one or more PA driverscoupled in series and/or in parallel, may adjust its gain, its inputimpedance, its frequency response, its bandwidth, its loading, etc. inaccordance with the PA control signal. In addition, the PA module 154may generate PA feedback of the RF transmit feedback 86 and/or 112. SuchPA feedback may include measurements indicative of gain, inputimpedance, frequency response, bandwidth, loading, etc. Alternatively,the PA module 154 may include processing circuitry to interpret themeasurements to calculate its gain, its input impedance, its frequencyresponse, its bandwidth, its loading, etc. and to provide such values tothe calibration module 64 via the analog to digital interface 160.

The RF filtering module 156 is coupled to filter the amplified outboundRF signal in accordance with an RF filter control signal of the RFtransmitter calibration information to produce the outbound RF signal 92and/or 110. For example, the RF filtering module 156 may adjust itsgain/attenuation, its bandwidth, its roll-off, its corner frequency orfrequencies, etc. in accordance with the RF filter control signal. Inaddition, the RF filtering module 156 may generate RF transmit filteringfeedback of the RF transmit feedback 86 and/or 112. Such RF transmitfiltering feedback may include measurements indicative ofgain/attenuation, bandwidth, roll-off, corner frequency or frequencies,etc. Alternatively, the RF filtering module 156 may include processingcircuitry to interpret the measurements to calculate itsgain/attenuation, its bandwidth, its roll-off, its corner frequency orfrequencies, etc. and to provide such values to the calibration module64 via the analog to digital interface 160.

The antenna matching circuit module 158, which may include atransmission line, an impedance matching circuit, and/or tuning circuit,is coupled to provide the outbound RF signal 92 and/or 110 to theantenna system 54. The antenna matching circuit module 158 may be tunedin accordance with a matching control signal of the RF transmittercalibration information 86 and/or 112. For example, the RF transmittercalibration information 86 and/or 112 may provide control signals to setan impedance, bandwidth, center frequency, and/or quality factor of theantenna matching circuit module 158 to support the particular wirelesscommunication protocol. In addition, the antenna matching circuit module158 may generate receive antenna matching feedback of the RF transmitfeedback 90 and/or 114. For example, the transmit antenna matchingfeedback may include measurements indicative of impedance, frequencyresponse, bandwidth, quality factor, center frequency, etc. As analternative example, the antenna matching circuit module 158 may includeprocessing circuitry to interpret such measurements to calculate itsinput impedance, its frequency response, its bandwidth, its qualityfactor, its center frequency, etc. and to provide such values to thecalibration module 64 via the analog to digital interface 160.

In an embodiment, the network processing module 62 may establish theoperational parameters to include a range of analog filter parametersfrom which the analog filter control signal is generated; establish theoperational parameters to include a range of up-conversion parametersfrom which the up conversion control signal is generated; establish theoperational parameters to include a range of PA parameters from whichthe PA control signal is generated; establish the operational parametersto include a range of RF filter control parameters from which the RFfilter control signal is generated; and establish the operationalparameters to include a range of antenna matching parameters from whichthe matching control signal is generated. As such, one or more of thecomponents 150-158 of the transmitter section 68 may be adjusted basedon the RF transmitter calibration information 90 or 114. Alternatively,the network processing module 62 may generate the operational parameters82 and/or 116 such that one or more the components 150-158 of thetransmitter section 68 is set to a default, or nominal, operating level.

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a wirelesscommunication device 50 that includes two ICs 52-1 and 52-1 and theantenna system 54. In this embodiment, IC 52-1 includes a processingmodule 170 and IC 52-2 includes a receiver section 66, a transmittersection 68, and a local oscillation module 130. The processing module170 may be a single processing device or a plurality of processingdevices. Such a processing device may be a microprocessor,micro-controller, digital signal processor, microcomputer, centralprocessing unit, field programmable gate array, programmable logicdevice, state machine, logic circuitry, analog circuitry, digitalcircuitry, and/or any device that manipulates signals (analog and/ordigital) based on hard coding of the circuitry and/or operationalinstructions. The processing module may have an associated memory and/ormemory element, which may be a single memory device, a plurality ofmemory devices, and/or embedded circuitry of the processing module. Sucha memory device may be a read-only memory, random access memory,volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamic memory,flash memory, cache memory, and/or any device that stores digitalinformation. Note that when the processing module implements one or moreof its functions via a state machine, analog circuitry, digitalcircuitry, and/or logic circuitry, the memory and/or memory elementstoring the corresponding operational instructions may be embeddedwithin, or external to, the circuitry comprising the state machine,analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry. Furthernote that, the memory element stores, and the processing moduleexecutes, hard coded and/or operational instructions corresponding to atleast some of the steps and/or functions illustrated in FIGS. 7-19.

In operation, the processing module 170 establishes a wirelesscommunication protocol 78 in accordance with an operational mode 80 ofthe wireless communication device. The wireless communication protocol78 may be one or more of a WLAN communication protocol (e.g., IEEE802.11x, FFC), a WPAN communication protocol (e.g., Bluetooth, ZigBee,IEEE 802.15x, NFC) and a WWAN communication protocol (e.g., GSM, EDGE,GPRS, WCDMA, CDMA, HSDPA, HSUPA, DVB-H, DMB, GPS, FM). Note that theprocessing module 170 may automatically detect the operational mode 80and/or detect the operational mode 80 based on a user selection.

The processing module 170 also establishes operational parameters 82based on the wireless communication protocol 78. The operationalparameters 82 may includes limits and/or specific values for one or moreof frequency bands, channels, gain settings, filter corner frequency orfrequencies, filter attenuation roll-off, bandwidth, center frequency,quality factor, frequency dependent impedance value, attenuationsetting, gain roll-off, transmit power settings, antenna configurationsettings, and frequency response.

The processing module 170 receives feedback from the receiver section 66and the transmitter section 68 (e.g., RF receive feedback 84 and RFtransmit feedback 86, respectively). The processing module 170 uses theoperational parameters 82 and the RF receive feedback 84 to generate RFreceiver calibration information 88. In an embodiment, the processingmodule 170 utilizes the operational parameters 82 to determine desiredperformance levels of the receiver section 66 and uses the RF receivefeedback 84 to determine actual performance levels. The processingmodule 170 determines differences between the desired performance levelsand the actual performance levels to generate the RF receivercalibration information 88. The RF receiver calibration information 88may include one or more of: default settings for one or more componentsof the receiver section 66, new or adjusted LNA settings, new oradjusted antenna matching settings, new or adjusted antennaconfiguration settings, new or adjusted RF filtering settings, new oradjusted analog filtering settings, and new or adjusted down conversionmixer settings.

The processing module 170 also uses the operational parameters 82 andthe RF transmit feedback 86 to generate RF transmitter calibrationinformation 90. In an embodiment, the processing module 170 utilizes theoperational parameters 82 to determine desired performance levels of thetransmitter section 6 and uses the RF transmit feedback 86 to determineactual performance levels. The processing module 170 determinesdifferences between the desired performance levels and the actualperformance levels to generate the RF transmitter calibrationinformation 90. The RF transmitter calibration information 90 mayinclude one or more of: default settings for one or more components ofthe transmitter section 68, new or adjusted PA settings, new or adjustedantenna matching settings, new or adjusted antenna configurationsettings, new or adjusted RF filtering settings, new or adjusted analogfiltering settings, and new or adjusted up-conversion mixer settings.

The processing module 170 further functions to convert outbound data 70(e.g., digitized voice, data, text, image file, audio file, video file,etc.) into an outbound symbol stream 74 in accordance with the wirelesscommunication protocol 78. The particular type of processing performedby the processing module 170 is dependent upon the wirelesscommunication protocol 78 and may include, but is not limited to,scrambling, encoding, puncturing, constellation mapping, PSK modulation,GMSK modulation, QPSK modulation, FSK modulation, 8-PSK modulation,n-QAM modulation, and/or digital baseband to IF conversion.

The processing module 170 also converts an inbound symbol stream 76 intoinbound data 72 (e.g., digitized voice, data, text, image file, audiofile, video file, GPS signals, digitized FM audio, digital videobroadcast, etc.) in accordance with the wireless communication protocol78. The particular type of processing performed by the processing module170 is dependent upon the wireless communication protocol 78 and mayinclude, but is not limited to, descrambling, decoding, depuncturing,constellation demapping, PSK demodulation, GMSK demodulation, QPSKdemodulation, FSK demodulation, 8-PSK demodulation, n-QAM demodulation,and/or IF to digital baseband conversion.

The receiver section 66 provides the RF receive feedback 84 and convertsan inbound RF signal 94 into the inbound symbol stream 76 in accordancewith the RF receiver calibration information 88 and a receive localoscillation 98. The conversion performed by the receiver section 66 isdependent upon the wireless communication protocol. For example, if thewireless communication protocol utilizes Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying(GMSK) scheme, the receiver section 66 includes a GMSK receiverarchitecture to recover a GMSK modulated signal (e.g., the inboundsymbol stream 76) from the inbound RF signal 94. As another example, ifthe wireless communication protocol utilizes an 8-PSK (phase shiftkeying) scheme and/or an x-QAM scheme, the receiver section 66 includesan 8-PSK or x-QAM receiver architecture to recover an 8-PSK or x-QAMmodulated signal (e.g., the inbound symbol stream 76) from the inboundRF signal 94.

The transmitter section 68 provides the RF transmit feedback 86 andconverts the outbound symbol stream 74 into an outbound RF signal 92 inaccordance with the RF transmitter calibration information 90 and atransmit local oscillation 96. The conversion performed by thetransmitter section 68 is dependent upon the wireless communicationprotocol. For example, if the wireless communication protocol utilizes aGMSK scheme, the transmitter section 68 includes a GMSK transmitterarchitecture to convert a GMSK modulated signal (e.g., the outboundsymbol stream 76) into the outbound RF signal 92. As another example, ifthe wireless communication protocol utilizes an 8-PSK (phase shiftkeying) scheme and/or an x-QAM scheme, the transmitter section 68includes an 8-PSK or x-QAM transmitter architecture to convert an 8-PSKor x-QAM modulated signal (e.g., the outbound symbol stream 76) into theoutbound RF signal 92.

The antenna system 54 (embodiments of which are described in greaterdetail with reference to FIGS. 8-19) provides the inbound RF signal 94to the receiver section 66 and receives the outbound RF signal 92 fromthe transmitter section 68. The antenna section 54 then transmits theoutbound RF signal 92.

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a wirelesscommunication device 50 that includes an IC 52 and the antenna system54. In this embodiment, IC 52 includes a processing module 180, atransceiver section 182, and a local oscillation module 184. Theprocessing module 180 may be a single processing device or a pluralityof processing devices. Such a processing device may be a microprocessor,micro-controller, digital signal processor, microcomputer, centralprocessing unit, field programmable gate array, programmable logicdevice, state machine, logic circuitry, analog circuitry, digitalcircuitry, and/or any device that manipulates signals (analog and/ordigital) based on hard coding of the circuitry and/or operationalinstructions. The processing module may have an associated memory and/ormemory element, which may be a single memory device, a plurality ofmemory devices, and/or embedded circuitry of the processing module. Sucha memory device may be a read-only memory, random access memory,volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamic memory,flash memory, cache memory, and/or any device that stores digitalinformation. Note that when the processing module implements one or moreof its functions via a state machine, analog circuitry, digitalcircuitry, and/or logic circuitry, the memory and/or memory elementstoring the corresponding operational instructions may be embeddedwithin, or external to, the circuitry comprising the state machine,analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry. Furthernote that, the memory element stores, and the processing moduleexecutes, hard coded and/or operational instructions corresponding to atleast some of the steps and/or functions illustrated in FIGS. 8-19.

In operation, the processing module 180 establishes a wirelesscommunication protocol 78 in accordance with an operational mode 80 ofthe wireless communication device. The wireless communication protocol78 may be one or more of a WLAN communication protocol (e.g., IEEE802.11x, FFC), a WPAN communication protocol (e.g., Bluetooth, ZigBee,IEEE 802.15x, NFC) and a WWAN communication protocol (e.g., GSM, EDGE,GPRS, WCDMA, CDMA, HSDPA, HSUPA, DVB-H, DMB, GPS, FM). Note that theprocessing module 180 may automatically detect the operational mode 80and/or detect the operational mode 80 based on a user selection.

The processing module 180 also establishes operational parameters 188based on the wireless communication protocol 78. The operationalparameters 188 may includes limits and/or specific values for one ormore of frequency bands, channels, gain settings, filter cornerfrequency or frequencies, filter attenuation roll-off, bandwidth, centerfrequency, quality factor, frequency dependent impedance value,attenuation setting, gain roll-off, transmit power settings, antennaconfiguration settings, and frequency response.

The processing module 180 further functions to convert outbound data 70(e.g., digitized voice, data, text, image file, audio file, video file,etc.) into an outbound symbol stream 74 in accordance with the wirelesscommunication protocol 78. The particular type of processing performedby the processing module 180 is dependent upon the wirelesscommunication protocol 78 and may include, but is not limited to,scrambling, encoding, puncturing, constellation mapping, PSK modulation,GMSK modulation, QPSK modulation, FSK modulation, 8-PSK modulation,n-QAM modulation, and/or digital baseband to IF conversion.

The processing module 180 also converts an inbound symbol stream 76 intoinbound data 72 (e.g., digitized voice, data, text, image file, audiofile, video file, GPS signals, digitized FM audio, digital videobroadcast, etc.) in accordance with the wireless communication protocol78. The particular type of processing performed by the processing module180 is dependent upon the wireless communication protocol 78 and mayinclude, but is not limited to, descrambling, decoding, depuncturing,constellation demapping, PSK demodulation, GMSK demodulation, QPSKdemodulation, FSK demodulation, 8-PSK demodulation, n-QAM demodulation,and/or IF to digital baseband conversion.

The transceiver section 182, which may include the receiver section 66and the transmitter section 68, converts an inbound RF signal 94 intothe inbound symbol stream 76 in accordance with a local oscillation 186and the operational parameters 188. The conversion performed by thetransceiver section 182 is dependent upon the wireless communicationprotocol. For example, if the wireless communication protocol utilizesGaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK) scheme, the transceiver section 182includes a GMSK receiver architecture to recover a GMSK modulated signal(e.g., the inbound symbol stream 76) from the inbound RF signal 94. Asanother example, if the wireless communication protocol utilizes an8-PSK (phase shift keying) scheme and/or an x-QAM scheme, thetransceiver section 182 includes an 8-PSK or x-QAM receiver architectureto recover an 8-PSK or x-QAM modulated signal (e.g., the inbound symbolstream 76) from the inbound RF signal 94.

The transceiver section 182 also converts the outbound symbol stream 74into an outbound RF signal 92 in accordance with the local oscillation186 and the operational parameters. The conversion performed by thetransceiver section 182 is dependent upon the wireless communicationprotocol. For example, if the wireless communication protocol utilizes aGMSK scheme, the transceiver section 182 includes a GMSK transmitterarchitecture to convert a GMSK modulated signal (e.g., the outboundsymbol stream 76) into the outbound RF signal 92. As another example, ifthe wireless communication protocol utilizes an 8-PSK (phase shiftkeying) scheme and/or an x-QAM scheme, the transceiver section 182includes an 8-PSK or x-QAM transmitter architecture to convert an 8-PSKor x-QAM modulated signal (e.g., the outbound symbol stream 76) into theoutbound RF signal 92.

The local oscillation module 184, which may include one or more localoscillators as illustrated in FIG. 5, generates the local oscillation186 in accordance with the wireless communication protocol 78. Forexample, the local oscillation 186 may include a receive localoscillation 98 and/or 120 and a transmit local oscillation 96 and/or108.

The antenna system 54 provides the inbound RF signal 94 to the receiversection 66 and receives the outbound RF signal 92 from the transmittersection 68 in accordance with the operational parameters 188. Theantenna section 54 then transmits the outbound RF signal 92. The antennasystem 54 may be configured to provide one of the plurality of antennastructures 190-204 in accordance with the operational parameters 188 totransceive the inbound and outbound RF signals 92 and/or 94. Theplurality of antenna structures includes two or more of a WCDMA antennastructure 190; an HSDPA antenna structure 190; an HSUPA antennastructure 190; a GSM antenna structure 192; an EDGE antenna structure192; a GPRS antenna structure 192; a WLAN antenna structure 194; a WPANantenna structure 196; a GPS antenna structure 198; a DVB-H antennastructure 200; a DMB antenna structure 200; an FM antenna structure 202,an NFC coil structure 204; and an RFID antenna structure 204. Note thatan antenna structure 190-204 may include one or more antennas of thesame polarization, of different polarizations, arranged in a diversitypattern, arranged in an array, having programmable segments, havingprogrammable compensation components, and/or a combination thereof.Further note that the RFID antenna structure may be a NFC coil structure204 for NFC RFID communications and/or a WLAN antenna structure for FFCRFID communications.

With respect to the antenna system 54, the operational parameters 188include two or more of: a frequency band in accordance with the wirelesscommunication protocol; a channel within the frequency band, channelbandwidth of the channel, interferer frequency, antenna radiationpattern, full duplex communication, half duplex communication, gainsetting, impedance setting, center frequency setting, attenuationsetting, attenuation roll-off, antenna quality factor, antennapolarization setting, and antenna diversity setting. Based on two ormore of these operational parameters 188, the antenna system 54 providesone or more of the above mentioned antenna structures 190-204.

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an antennasystem 54 that includes a plurality of antenna segments 210-214,configuration circuitry 216, and compensation circuitry 218. Theconfiguration circuitry 216 couples the plurality of antenna segments210-214 into a first antenna structure for transceiving radio frequencysignals within a first radio frequency band when indicated by theoperational parameters 188 and couples the plurality of antenna segments210-214 into a second antenna structure for transceiving radio frequencysignals within a second radio frequency band when indicted by theoperational parameters 188. In a further embodiment, the configurationcircuitry 216 couples the plurality of antenna segments 210-214 into athird antenna structure for transceiving radio signals within a thirdradio frequency band when indicated by the operational parameters 188.

In an embodiment, each of the antenna segments 210-214 includes amonopole antenna, which may be implemented as a meandering trace on aPCB, a dipole antenna, which may be implemented as a meandering trace ona PCB, a Yagi antenna, and/or a helical antenna as taught in co-pendingpatent application entitled PLANER HELICAL ANTENNA, having a filing dateof Mar. 21, 2006 and a Ser. No. 11/386,247. In such an embodiment, theconfiguration circuitry 216 may include a transistor to provide couplingbetween first and second antenna segments of the plurality of antennasegments 210-214 and/or a capacitor to provide coupling between thefirst and second antenna segments of the plurality of antenna segments210-214.

In addition, the compensation circuitry 218 is coupled to the antennasegments 210-214 adjust a characteristic of the antenna structure inaccordance with at least one of: the antenna radiation pattern, the gainsetting, the impedance setting, the attenuation setting, the attenuationroll-off, the antenna quality factor, the antenna polarization setting,and the antenna diversity setting of the operational parameters 188. Anembodiment of the compensation circuitry 218 is discussed with referenceto FIG. 12.

FIG. 10 is a frequency domain diagram of three frequency bands centeredat 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, and 5.2 GHz. If a multiple band antenna system 54were to be made to support these three bands, the antenna segments210-214 would need to provide the desired antenna length for thecorresponding frequency bands.

FIG. 11 is a diagram of an embodiment of the antenna segments 210-214 toprovide an antenna structure that supports the frequency bands of FIG.10. In this example, the first antenna segment 210 is sized to provide a½ wavelength (λ) dipole antenna for the 5.2 GHz operation. As is known,a 5.2 GHz signal has a wavelength of 3*10⁸/5.2*10⁹=57.7 mm and,accordingly, a ½ wavelength dipole antenna has a length of 28.8 mm. Theantenna segment 210 may be of a meander trace shape, a planer helicalwinding, etc. As such, when the RF transceiver is in a 5.2 GHz mode, theconfiguration circuitry 216 couples the first antenna segment 210 toprovide the 5.2 GHz antenna structure.

For 2.4 GHz operation, the resulting ½ λ dipole antenna structure has atotal length of 62.5 mm (λ_(2.4G)=3*10⁸/2.4*10⁹=125 mm). Since the firstantenna segment 210 is 28.8 mm in length, the second antenna segment 212should be 33.7 mm in length to provide the desired overall length of62.5 mm. The antenna segment 212 may also be of a meander trace shape, aplaner helical winding, etc. In this mode, the configuration circuitry216 couples the first and second antenna segments 210 and 212 togetherto provide a 2.4 GHz dipole antenna.

For 900 MHz operation, the resulting ½ λ dipole antenna structure has atotal length of 166.6 mm (λ_(900M)=3*10⁸/9*10⁸=333 mm). Since the firstantenna segment 210 is 28.8 mm in length and the second antenna segment212 is 33.7 mm in length, the third antenna segment 214 should be 104.1mm in length to provide the desired overall length of 166.6 mm. Theantenna segment 214 may also be of a meander trace shape, a planerhelical winding, etc. In this mode, the configuration circuitry 216couples the first, second, and third antenna segments 210-214 togetherto provide a 900 MHz dipole antenna. As an alternative example, thenumber of antenna segments and their corresponding lengths may varydepending on the desired number of antenna structures to support avariety of frequency bands.

FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of an antennasystem 54 that includes one or more of the antenna segments 210-214 anda corresponding portion of the compensation circuitry 218. In thisembodiment, the antenna segment 210, 212, and/or 214 includes aresistive component (R1 and R2), an inductive component (L1 and L2), acapacitive component (C1 and C2). The corresponding portion of thecompensation circuitry 218 includes an externally coupled resistivecomponent (R1 _(ext) and R2 _(ext)), an inductive component (L1 _(ext)and L2 _(ext)), and/or an capacitive component (C1 _(ext) and C2_(ext)). The resistor, inductor, and/or capacitor of the compensationcircuitry 218 may be fixed and/or adjustable. In this instance, thecompensation circuitry 218 is programmed in accordance with theoperational parameters 188 to adjust one or more of the antennastructure's quality factor, the antenna structure's bandwidth, theantenna structure's center frequency, the antenna structure'sgain/attenuation, and/or the antenna structure's impedance.

FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a wirelesscommunication device 50 that includes an IC 52 and the antenna system54. In this embodiment, IC 52 includes a processing module 180, atransceiver section 182, and a local oscillation module 184. The antennasystem 54 includes a first antenna structure 230 and a second antennastructure 232.

The processing module 180 is coupled to establish a first wirelesscommunication protocol and a second wireless communication protocol inaccordance with two of the plurality of operational modes 80 of thewireless communication device 50. The first and second wirelesscommunication protocols may each be one or more of a WLAN communicationprotocol (e.g., IEEE 802.11x, FFC), a WPAN communication protocol (e.g.,Bluetooth, ZigBee, IEEE 802.15x, NFC) and a WWAN communication protocol(e.g., GSM, EDGE, GPRS, WCDMA, CDMA, HSDPA, HSUPA, DVB-H, DMB, GPS, FM).Note that the processing module 170 may automatically detect theoperational mode 80 and/or detect the operational mode 80 based on auser selection.

The processing module 180 further functions to establish firstoperational parameters 188 based on the first wireless communicationprotocol and to establish second operational parameters 236 based on thesecond wireless communication protocol. Each of the operationalparameters 188 and 236 may include limits and/or specific values for oneor more of frequency bands, channels, gain settings, filter cornerfrequency or frequencies, filter attenuation roll-off, bandwidth, centerfrequency, quality factor, frequency dependent impedance value,attenuation setting, gain roll-off, transmit power settings, antennaconfiguration settings, and frequency response.

The processing module 180 further functions to convert outbound data 70(e.g., digitized voice, data, text, image file, audio file, video file,etc.) into an outbound symbol stream 74 in accordance with the firstwireless communication protocol. The processing module 180 also convertsoutbound data 104 (e.g., digitized voice, data, text, image file, audiofile, video file, etc.) into an outbound symbol stream 106 in accordancewith the second wireless communication protocol. The particular type ofprocessing performed by the processing module 180 is dependent upon thewireless communication protocol and may include, but is not limited to,scrambling, encoding, puncturing, constellation mapping, PSK modulation,GMSK modulation, QPSK modulation, FSK modulation, 8-PSK modulation,n-QAM modulation, and/or digital baseband to IF conversion.

The processing module 180 also converts an inbound symbol stream 76 intoinbound data 72 (e.g., digitized voice, data, text, image file, audiofile, video file, GPS signals, digitized FM audio, digital videobroadcast, etc.) in accordance with the first wireless communicationprotocol. The processing module 180 also converts an inbound symbolstream 126 into inbound data 128 (e.g., digitized voice, data, text,image file, audio file, video file, GPS signals, digitized FM audio,digital video broadcast, etc.) in accordance with the second wirelesscommunication protocol. The particular type of processing performed bythe processing module 180 is dependent upon the wireless communicationprotocol and may include, but is not limited to, descrambling, decoding,depuncturing, constellation demapping, PSK demodulation, GMSKdemodulation, QPSK demodulation, FSK demodulation, 8-PSK demodulation,n-QAM demodulation, and/or IF to digital baseband conversion.

The transceiver section 182, which may include the receiver section 66and the transmitter section 68, converts an inbound RF signal 94 intothe inbound symbol stream 76 in accordance with a local oscillation 186and the operational parameters 188 and converts an inbound RF signal 118into the inbound symbol stream 126 in accordance with a localoscillation 234 and the operational parameters 236. The conversionperformed by the transceiver section 182 is dependent upon the wirelesscommunication protocol. For example, if the wireless communicationprotocol utilizes Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK) scheme, thetransceiver section 182 includes a GMSK receiver architecture to recovera GMSK modulated signal (e.g., the inbound symbol stream 76) from theinbound RF signal 94. As another example, if the wireless communicationprotocol utilizes an 8-PSK (phase shift keying) scheme and/or an x-QAMscheme, the transceiver section 182 includes an 8-PSK or x-QAM receiverarchitecture to recover an 8-PSK or x-QAM modulated signal (e.g., theinbound symbol stream 76) from the inbound RF signal 94.

The transceiver section 182 also converts the outbound symbol stream 74into an outbound RF signal 92 in accordance with the local oscillation186 and the operational parameters 188 and converts the outbound symbolstream 106 into an outbound RF signal 110 in accordance with the localoscillation 234 and the operational parameters 236. The conversionperformed by the transceiver section 182 is dependent upon the wirelesscommunication protocol. For example, if the wireless communicationprotocol utilizes a GMSK scheme, the transceiver section 182 includes aGMSK transmitter architecture to convert a GMSK modulated signal (e.g.,the outbound symbol stream 76) into the outbound RF signal 92. Asanother example, if the wireless communication protocol utilizes an8-PSK (phase shift keying) scheme and/or an x-QAM scheme, thetransceiver section 182 includes an 8-PSK or x-QAM transmitterarchitecture to convert an 8-PSK or x-QAM modulated signal (e.g., theoutbound symbol stream 76) into the outbound RF signal 92.

The local oscillation module 184, which may include one or more localoscillators as illustrated in FIG. 5, generates the local oscillations186 and 234 in accordance with the wireless communication protocols. Inan embodiment, the local oscillation 186 may include receive localoscillations 98 and 120 and transmit local oscillations 96 and 108.

The antenna system 54 includes a first antenna structure 230 enabled inaccordance with the first operational parameters 188 to transceive thefirst inbound and outbound RF signals 92 and 94 and a second antennastructure 232 enabled in accordance with the second operationalparameters 236 to transceive the second inbound and outbound RF signals110 and 118.

In another embodiment, the processing module 180 is coupled to determinewhether the wireless communication device 50 is in at least one of: awireless wide area network (WWAN) mode and a wireless local area network(WLAN) mode. Such a determination may be made based on signals beingtransceived and/or based on a user input to select the mode.

When the wireless communication device 50 is in the WWAN mode, theprocessing module 180 converts outbound data 70 into a first outboundsymbol stream 74 in accordance with a WWAN protocol and converts a firstinbound symbol stream 94 into inbound data 76 in accordance with theWWAN protocol. When the wireless communication device is in the WLANmode, the processing module 180 converts the outbound data 70 into asecond outbound symbol stream 110 in accordance with a WLAN protocol andconverts a second inbound symbol stream 126 into the inbound data 72 inaccordance with the WLAN protocol.

In this embodiment, the transceiver section 182 is coupled to convert afirst inbound RF signal 94 into the first inbound symbol stream 76 inaccordance with a first local oscillation 186 and convert the firstoutbound symbol stream 74 into a first outbound RF signal 92 inaccordance with the first local oscillation 186 when the wirelesscommunication device is in the WWAN mode. When the wirelesscommunication device 50 is in the WLAN mode, the transceiver section 182converts a second inbound RF signal 118 into the second inbound symbolstream 126 in accordance with a second local oscillation 234 andconverts the second outbound symbol stream 106 into a second outbound RFsignal 110 in accordance with the second local oscillation 234.

Also in this embodiment, the antenna system 54 includes a WWAN antennastructure 230 (e.g., GSM, EDGE, GPRS, WCDMA, CDMA, HSDPA, HSUPA, DVB-H,DMB, GPS, and/or FM antenna structure) and a WLAN antenna structure 194or 232 (e.g., IEEE 802.11x antenna structure, FFC antenna structure).When the wireless communication device 50 is in the WWAN mode, the WWANantenna structure 230 is enabled to transceive the first inbound andoutbound RF signals 92 and 94. When the wireless communication device 50is in the WLAN mode, the WLAN antenna structure 232 is enabled totransceive the second inbound and outbound RF signals 110 and 118. Notethat an antenna element of at least one of the WWAN antenna structureand the WLAN antenna structure may be located on a package substrate ofthe integrated circuit 52.

In another embodiment, the processing module 180 determines that thewireless communication device 50 is in a wireless personal area network(WPAN) mode. When the wireless communication device 50 is in the WPANmode, the processing module 180 functions to convert the outbound datainto a third outbound symbol stream in accordance with a WPAN protocoland to convert a third inbound symbol stream into the inbound data inaccordance with the WPAN protocol. Note that the WPAN communicationprotocol may be in accordance with Bluetooth, ZigBee, IEEE 802.15x,and/or NFC protocols.

In this embodiment, the RF transceiver section 182 convert a thirdinbound RF signal into the third inbound symbol stream in accordancewith a third local oscillation and convert the third outbound symbolstream into a third outbound RF signal in accordance with the thirdlocal oscillation. The antenna system 54 further includes a WPAN antennastructure 196 that is enabled to transceive the third inbound andoutbound RF signals when the wireless communication device 50 is in theWPAN mode.

In another embodiment, the processing module 180 determines that thewireless communication device 50 is in a global position system (GPS)mode. In this mode, the processing module converts a plurality ofinbound GPS signals into the inbound data in accordance with the GPSprotocol. The RF transceiver section 182 converts a plurality of inboundGPS RF signals into the plurality of inbound GPS signals.

In this mode, the antenna system 54 includes a GPS antenna structure198. In the GPS mode, the GPS antenna structure 198 is enabled toreceive the plurality of inbound GPS RF signals.

In another embodiment, the processing module 180 determines that thewireless communication device 50 is in a radio frequency identification(RFID) mode. In this mode, the processing module 180 converts theoutbound data into a fourth outbound symbol stream in accordance with aRFID protocol and converts a fourth inbound symbol stream into theinbound data in accordance with the RFID protocol.

In this mode, the RF transceiver section 182 converts a fourth inboundRF signal into the fourth inbound symbol stream in accordance with afourth local oscillation and converts the fourth outbound symbol streaminto a fourth outbound RF signal in accordance with the fourth localoscillation. The antenna system 54 includes an RFID antenna structure,wherein, when the wireless communication device is in the RFID mode, theRFID antenna structure is enabled to transceive the fourth inbound andoutbound RF signals. Note that, in one embodiment, the RFID antennastructure includes a coil for near field communication of the fourthinbound and outbound RF signals.

In yet another embodiment, the processing module 180 generate theoperational parameters 188 and/or 236 to include a frequency hoppingpattern within a given frequency band. As such, the antenna system 54adjusts its center frequency in accordance with the frequency hoppingpattern to provide a plurality of inbound RF signals to the transceiversection 182. The transceiver section 182 converts the plurality ofinbound RF signals into a plurality of inbound symbol streams.

The processing module 180 receives the plurality of inbound symbolstreams in accordance with the frequency hopping pattern and oversamplesthem to produce a plurality of oversampled inbound symbol streams. Theprocessing module 180 then combines the plurality of oversampled inboundsymbol streams to produce a combined oversampled symbol stream. Thecombining may be done in accordance with an averaging function, a meansquare function, with weighting of the symbol streams, and/or any otherway to mathematically combine signals. The processing module 180 thenconverts the combined oversampled symbol stream into the inbound data 72or 128.

FIG. 14 is a diagram of another embodiment of an antenna system 54 thatincludes a plurality of first antennas 240, 242, 244, and 246 having afirst orthogonal orientation therebetween 246 and a plurality of secondantennas 250, 252, 254, and 256 having a second orthogonal orientationtherebetween 258. In this embodiment, the plurality of second antennasis interspersed with the plurality of first antennas.

In an embodiment, the antenna system 54 includes a plurality of transmitplaner antennas 250, 252, 254, and 256 and a plurality of receive planerantennas 240, 242, 244, and 246 on a supporting structure. Thesupporting substrate may be an integrated circuit package substrate suchas a printed circuit board (PCB), a PCB, a low temperature co-firedceramic (LTCC) substrate, or an organic substrate.

The plurality of transmit planer antennas (e.g., the third, fourth,seventh, and/or eighth antennas 250, 252, 254, and 256) have a pluralityof transmit axial orientations 258, where each of the transmit planerantennas is positioned in accordance with a corresponding one of thetransmit axial orientations 258. Each of the transmit planer antennashas a conductive antenna pattern on at least the first surface of thesupporting substrate 230. For example, the conductive antenna patternmay be a meandering line on the first surface, a metal trace on thefirst surface, a coil on the first surface, and/or a planer helicalantenna as described in co-pending patent application entitled PLANERHELICAL ANTENNA, having a filing date of Mar. 21, 2006, and a Ser. No.11/386,247.

The plurality of receive planer antennas (e.g., the first, second,fifth, and sixth antennas 240, 242, 244, and 246) have a plurality ofreceive axial orientations 248, where each of the receive planerantennas is positioned in accordance with a corresponding one of thereceive axial orientations 248. Each of the plurality of receive planerantennas has the conductive antenna pattern on the first surface of thesupporting substrate. For example, the conductive antenna pattern may bea meandering line on the first surface, a metal trace on the firstsurface, a coil on the first surface, and/or a planer helical antenna asdescribed in co-pending patent application entitled PLANER HELICALANTENNA, having a filing date of Mar. 21, 2006, and a Ser. No.11/386,247.

FIG. 15 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of an antennasystem 54 that includes the plurality of first antennas 240, 242, 244,and 246, the plurality of second antennas 250, 252, 254, and 256, areceive module, and a transmit module. In general, the receive module iscoupled to the plurality of first antennas and combines RF signalsreceived by the plurality of first antennas to produce the inbound RFsignal. Also in general, the transmit module generates a plurality ofoutbound RF signals from the outbound RF signal that have an orthogonalphase relationship therebetween and provides the plurality of outboundRF signals to the plurality of second antennas.

In this embodiment, the receive module includes a plurality of hybridcircuits 260, 262, and 268 coupled to an LNA module 272 and the transmitmodule includes a plurality of hybrid circuits 264, 266, and 270 coupledto a PA module 274.

The first hybrid circuit module 260 is coupled to produce a first phasecombined receive RF signal (e.g., 0°) from a first phase shifted receiveRF signal (e.g., 0°) received from the 1^(st) antenna 240 and a secondphase shifted receive RF signal (e.g., 180°) received from the 5^(th)antenna 244. For example, the first hybrid circuit 260 may perform thefunction of cos(2πω_(RF)+0)−cos(2πω_(RF)+180).

The second hybrid circuit module 262 is coupled to produce a secondphase combined receive RF signal (e.g., 270°) from a third phase shiftedreceive RF signal (e.g., 270°) received from the 2^(nd) antenna 242 anda fourth phase shifted receive RF signal (e.g., 90°) received from the6^(th) antenna 246. For example, the second hybrid circuit 262 mayperform the function of cos(2πω_(RF)+270)−cos(2πω_(RF)+90).

The third hybrid circuit module 268 is coupled to produce a receive RFsignal from the first and second phase combined receive RF signals,i.e., the outputs of the first and second hybrid circuits 260 and 262.In one embodiment, the third hybrid circuit 268 performs the function ofcos(2πω_(RF)+0)+90° phase shift of [cos(2πω_(RF)+270)]. The received RFsignal is then amplified by the LNA module 272.

On the transmit side, the PA module 280 is coupled to amplify anoutbound RF signal to produce an amplified RF signal. The first hybridcircuit module 270 is coupled to produce a first phase shifted transmitRF signal (e.g., 90°) from a transmit RF signal (i.e., the amplified RFsignal). The first hybrid circuit module 270 provides the transmit RFsignal (e.g., 0°) to the second hybrid circuit module 264 and the firstphase shifted transmit RF signal to the third hybrid circuit module 266.In one embodiment, the first hybrid circuit module 270 functions to adda 90° phase offset to the transmit RF signal (e.g., cos(2πω_(RF))) toproduce the first phase shifted transmit RF signal (e.g.,cos(2πω_(RF)+90)) and passes the transmit RF signal through a delay thatsubstantially matches the time it takes to add the 90° phase offset.

The second hybrid circuit module 264 is coupled to produce a secondphased shifted transmit RF signal (e.g., 180°) from the transmit RFsignal (e.g., 0°). The second hybrid circuit module 264 provides thetransmit RF signal (e.g., 0°) to the third antenna 250 and provides thesecond phase shifted transmit RF signal (e.g., 180°) to the 7^(th)antenna 254. In one embodiment, the second hybrid circuit module 264inverts the transmit RF signal (e.g., cos(2πω_(RF)) to produce thesecond phase shifted transmit RF signal (e.g., cos(2πω_(RF)+180)) andpasses the transmit RF signal through a delay that substantially matchesthe time it takes to invert the signal.

The third hybrid circuit module 266 is coupled to produce a third phaseshifted transmit RF signal (e.g., 270°) from the first phase shiftedtransmit RF signal (e.g., 90°). The third hybrid circuit module 266provides the third phase shifted transmit RF signal (e.g., 270°) to the8^(th) antenna 256 and provides the first phase shifted transmit RFsignal (e.g., 90°) to the 4^(th) antenna 252. In one embodiment, thethird hybrid circuit module 266 inverts the first phase shifted transmitRF signal (e.g., cos(2πω_(RF)+90) to produce the third phase shiftedtransmit RF signal (e.g., cos(2πω_(RF)+270)) and passes the first phaseshifted transmit RF signal through a delay that substantially matchesthe time it takes to invert the signal.

FIG. 16 is a diagram of an embodiment of a wireless communication device50 that includes a battery 280, a communication device case 282, and aplurality of antenna segments 210-214. In this embodiment, the battery280 is coupled to provide power to the IC 52 and at least a portion ofthe antenna system 54 (e.g., an antenna segment 210-214) is locatedproximal to the battery 280. In such an embodiment, the battery 280functions as a ground plane for the at least a portion of the antennasystem 54.

FIG. 17 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of an antennasystem 54 that includes an antenna 290, a transmission line 292, aninductor module 294, a tunable capacitor module 296, and control logic298. The antenna 290 may include one or more antenna segments aspreviously discussed with reference to FIGS. 9-12, may include a dipoleantenna, a mono-pole antenna, a diversity antenna structure, anorthogonal antenna structure and/or a combination thereof.

The transmission line 292 provides coupling between the antenna 290 andthe rest of the antenna system 54. The transmission line 292 may be ashielded trace on a PCB, on a package substrate of the IC 52, may be acoaxial cable implemented on the IC 52, on the package substrate, and/oron the PCB using micro-electromechanical (MEM) technique and/or acombination thereof. The properties (impedance, frequency response,bandwidth, etc.) of the transmission line 292 may be fixed and/oradjustable in accordance with the operational parameters 188 and/or 236.

The inductor module 294 is coupled to the transmission line 292 and tothe tunable capacitor module 296. The opposite end of the inductormodule 294, which includes one or more fixed and/or variable inductors,provides the connection node to the transceiver section 182. The tunablecapacitor module 296, which includes one or more fixed and/or adjustablecapacitors, a capacitor matrix, and/or a capacitor switching network, isadjusted in accordance with a capacitance control signal to provide adesired capacitance. In this manner, the inductance of the inductormodule 294 in combination with the desired capacitance tunes the antennasystem 54 to provide a desired center frequency, a desired qualityfactor, a desired impedance, a desired bandwidth, a desired frequencyresponse, a and/or desired gain.

The control logic 298 generates the capacitance control signal based onthe operational parameters 188 and/or 236. For example, the controllogic 298 may be a state machine coded to convert a particular settingof the operational parameters 188 and/or 236 into a particular settingof the capacitor control signal.

In another embodiment, the inductor module 294 includes an inductor toprovide a first inductance and a tunable inductor circuit, which mayinclude an adjustable inductor, an inductor matrix, a switching inductornetwork and/or a combination thereof. The tunable inductor circuit iscoupled to provide a second inductance in accordance with an inductancecontrol signal. In this embodiment, the control logic 298 generates theinductance control signal in accordance with the operational parameter188 and/or 236. The resulting inductance (e.g., the first and secondinductances) in combination with the capacitance of the tunablecapacitor module 296 provides the tuning of the antenna system 54. Notethat in one embodiment, adjusting of the capacitor module 296 adjuststhe center frequency of the antenna system 54 and adjusting of theinductor module 294 adjusts the bandwidth of the antenna system 54.

In an embodiment, the wireless communication device 50 includes the IC52 and a printed circuit board (PCB). The IC 52 includes the processingmodule 180, the transceiver section 182, the control logic 298, thetunable capacitor module 296, and the tunable inductor circuit of theinductor module 294. The PCB supports the integrated circuit 52 and theinductor of the inductor module 294. The antenna 290 is printed on theprinted circuit board. Such a wireless communication device may beincorporated into another device (e.g., PC, cell phone, etc.).

In another embodiment, the wireless communication device 50 includes anIC 52 and a PCB. In this embodiment, the IC 52 includes a package boardand a die. The die includes the processing module 180, the transceiversection 182, the control logic 298, and the tunable capacitor module296. The package board includes the tunable inductor circuit and theinductor of the inductor module 294. The printed circuit board supportsthe integrated circuit and the antenna 290.

FIG. 18 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a wirelesscommunication device 50 that includes an IC 52-2 and an antenna system54. The IC 52-2 functions as previously discussed with reference to FIG.7 and the antenna system 54 functions as previously discussed withreference to FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of a wirelesscommunication device 50 that includes an IC 52-1 and an antenna system54. In this embodiment, the IC 52-1 includes the processing module 180,the control logic of the antenna system 54, and the tunable capacitormodule 296 of the antenna system. The processing module 180 functions aspreviously discussed with reference to FIGS. 8 and 13. The antennasystem 54 functions as previously described with reference to FIG. 17.

As may be used herein, the terms “substantially” and “approximately”provides an industry-accepted tolerance for its corresponding termand/or relativity between items. Such an industry-accepted toleranceranges from less than one percent to fifty percent and corresponds to,but is not limited to, component values, integrated circuit processvariations, temperature variations, rise and fall times, and/or thermalnoise. Such relativity between items ranges from a difference of a fewpercent to magnitude differences. As may also be used herein, theterm(s) “coupled to” and/or “coupling” includes direct coupling betweenitems and/or indirect coupling between items via an intervening item(e.g., an item includes, but is not limited to, a component, an element,a circuit, and/or a module) where, for indirect coupling, theintervening item does not modify the information of a signal but mayadjust its current level, voltage level, and/or power level. As mayfurther be used herein, inferred coupling (i.e., where one element iscoupled to another element by inference) includes direct and indirectcoupling between two items in the same manner as “coupled to”. As mayeven further be used herein, the term “operable to” indicates that anitem includes one or more of power connections, input(s), output(s),etc., to perform one or more its corresponding functions and may furtherinclude inferred coupling to one or more other items. As may stillfurther be used herein, the term “associated with”, includes directand/or indirect coupling of separate items and/or one item beingembedded within another item. As may be used herein, the term “comparesfavorably”, indicates that a comparison between two or more items,signals, etc., provides a desired relationship. For example, when thedesired relationship is that signal 1 has a greater magnitude thansignal 2, a favorable comparison may be achieved when the magnitude ofsignal 1 is greater than that of signal 2 or when the magnitude ofsignal 2 is less than that of signal 1.

The present invention has also been described above with the aid ofmethod steps illustrating the performance of specified functions andrelationships thereof. The boundaries and sequence of these functionalbuilding blocks and method steps have been arbitrarily defined hereinfor convenience of description. Alternate boundaries and sequences canbe defined so long as the specified functions and relationships areappropriately performed. Any such alternate boundaries or sequences arethus within the scope and spirit of the claimed invention.

The present invention has been described above with the aid offunctional building blocks illustrating the performance of certainsignificant functions. The boundaries of these functional buildingblocks have been arbitrarily defined for convenience of description.Alternate boundaries could be defined as long as the certain significantfunctions are appropriately performed. Similarly, flow diagram blocksmay also have been arbitrarily defined herein to illustrate certainsignificant functionality. To the extent used, the flow diagram blockboundaries and sequence could have been defined otherwise and stillperform the certain significant functionality. Such alternatedefinitions of both functional building blocks and flow diagram blocksand sequences are thus within the scope and spirit of the claimedinvention. One of average skill in the art will also recognize that thefunctional building blocks, and other illustrative blocks, modules andcomponents herein, can be implemented as illustrated or by discretecomponents, application specific integrated circuits, processorsexecuting appropriate software and the like or any combination thereof.

1. A wireless communication device comprises: a processing modulecoupled to: establish a wireless communication protocol in accordancewith one of a plurality of operational modes of the wirelesscommunication device; convert outbound data into an outbound symbolstream in accordance with the wireless communication protocol; convertan inbound symbol stream into inbound data in accordance with thewireless communication protocol; and establish operational parametersbased on the wireless communication protocol; and a transceiver sectioncoupled to: convert an inbound RF signal into the inbound symbol streamin accordance with the operational parameters and a local oscillation;and convert the outbound symbol stream into an outbound RF signal inaccordance with the operational parameters and the local oscillation;and an antenna system that includes: an antenna; a transmission linecoupled to the antenna; an inductor module coupled to the transmissionline, in which the inductor module includes an inductor to provide afirst inductance and a tunable inductor circuit coupled to provide asecond inductance in accordance with an inductance control signal,wherein the first and second inductances provide an inductance of theinductor module; a tunable capacitor module coupled to the transmissionline in accordance with a capacitance control signal to provide adesired capacitance such that the inductance of the inductor module andthe desired capacitance tune the antenna system; and control logiccoupled to generate the inductance control signal and the capacitancecontrol signal based on the operational parameters.
 2. The wirelesscommunication device of claim 1, wherein the processing module furtherfunctions to: generate the operational parameters to include a frequencyhopping pattern within a given frequency band, wherein the frequencyhopping pattern establishes different center frequencies for the antennasystem; receive a plurality of inbound symbol streams in accordance withthe frequency hopping pattern; oversample the plurality of inboundsymbol streams to produce a plurality of oversampled inbound symbolstreams; combine the plurality of oversampled inbound symbol streams toproduce a combined oversampled symbol stream; and convert the combinedoversampled symbol stream into the inbound data.
 3. The wirelesscommunication device of claim 1, wherein the processing module furtherfunctions to: generate the operational parameters to include a desiredcenter frequency.
 4. The wireless communication device of claim 1,wherein the processing module further functions to: generate theoperational parameters to include a desired bandwidth.
 5. The wirelesscommunication device of claim 1 further comprises: an integrated circuitthat includes the processing module, the transceiver section, thecontrol logic, the tunable capacitor module, and the tunable inductorcircuit; and a printed circuit board that supports the integratedcircuit and the inductor, wherein the antenna is printed on the printedcircuit board.
 6. The wireless communication device of claim 1 furthercomprises: an integrated circuit that includes a package board and adie, the die includes the processing module, the transceiver section,the control logic, and the tunable capacitor module, and wherein thepackage board include tunable inductor circuit and the inductor; and aprinted circuit board that supports the integrated circuit, wherein theantenna is printed on the printed circuit board.
 7. A radio frequency(RF) transceiver comprises: a receiver section coupled to convert aninbound RF signal into the inbound symbol stream in accordance with theoperational parameters and a receive local oscillation; a transmittersection coupled to convert the outbound symbol stream into an outboundRF signal in accordance with the operational parameters and a transmitlocal oscillation; a local oscillation module coupled to generate thereceive and transmit local oscillations in accordance with a wirelesscommunication protocol; an antenna system that includes: an antenna; atransmission line coupled to the antenna; an inductor module coupled tothe transmission line, in which the inductor module includes an inductorto provide a first inductance and a tunable inductor circuit coupled toprovide a second inductance in accordance with an inductance controlsignal, wherein the first and second inductances provide an inductanceof the inductor module; a tunable capacitor module coupled to thetransmission line in accordance with a capacitance control signal toprovide a desired capacitance such that the inductance of the inductormodule and the desired capacitance tune the antenna system; and controllogic coupled to generate the inductance control signal and thecapacitance control signal based on operational parameters.
 8. The RFtransceiver of claim 7, wherein the operational parameters comprise: adesired center frequency; and a desired bandwidth.
 9. The RF transceiverof claim 7 further comprises: an integrated circuit that includes thereceiver section, the transmitter section, the local oscillation module,the control logic, the tunable capacitor module, and the tunableinductor circuit; and a printed circuit board that supports theintegrated circuit and the inductor, wherein the antenna is printed onthe printed circuit board.
 10. The RF transceiver of claim 7 furthercomprises: an integrated circuit that includes a package board and adie, the die includes the receiver section, the transmitter section, thelocal oscillation module, the control logic, and the tunable capacitormodule, and wherein the package board include tunable inductor circuitand the inductor; and a printed circuit board that supports theintegrated circuit, wherein the antenna is printed on the printedcircuit board.
 11. An integrated circuit (IC) comprises: a processingmodule coupled to: establish a wireless communication protocol inaccordance with one of a plurality of operational modes of the wirelesscommunication device; convert outbound data into an outbound symbolstream in accordance with the wireless communication protocol; providethe outbound symbol stream to a radio frequency (RF) transceiver;receive an inbound symbol stream from the RF transceiver; convert aninbound symbol stream into inbound data in accordance with the wirelesscommunication protocol; and establish operational parameters based onthe wireless communication protocol; an inductor module that includes aninductor to provide a first inductance and an tunable inductor circuitcoupled to provide a second inductance in accordance with an inductancecontrol signal, wherein the first and second inductances provide aninductance of the inductor module; a tunable capacitor module of anantenna system, wherein the tunable capacitor module provides a desiredcapacitance such that the inductance of the inductor module of theantenna system and the desired capacitance tune the antenna system; andcontrol logic coupled to generate the inductance control signal and thecapacitance control signal based on the operational parameters.
 12. TheIC of claim 11, wherein the processing module further functions to:generate the operational parameters to include a frequency hoppingpattern within a given frequency band, wherein the frequency hoppingpattern establishes different center frequencies for the antenna system;receive a plurality of inbound symbol streams in accordance with thefrequency hopping pattern; oversample the plurality of inbound symbolstreams to produce a plurality of oversampled inbound symbol streams;combine the plurality of oversampled inbound symbol streams to produce acombined oversampled symbol stream; and convert the combined oversampledsymbol stream into the inbound data.
 13. The IC of claim 11, wherein theprocessing module further functions to: generate the operationalparameters to include a desired center frequency that is adjusted byadjusting the desired capacitance.
 14. The IC of claim 13, wherein theprocessing module further functions to: generate the operationalparameters to include a desired bandwidth that is adjusted by adjustingthe inductance of the inductor module.